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Local.com Begins Licensing Local Search Technology
Friday, November 16, 2007
Syndication Contracts Now Include License for U.S. Patent No. 7,231,405
Irvine, CA -- Local.com Corporation (Nasdaq: LOCM), a leading local search engine, today announced the signing of five license agreements for U.S. Patent No. 7,231,405, which covers methods for indexing and retrieving web-related information by geographical location.
The patent licenses have been integrated into revised contracts for Local.com’s LocalConnect platform, which was recently expanded via the acquisition of PremierGuide. Former PremierGuide clients Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. (CNHI), GateHouse Media, Inc., Herald Association, Inc., Intellistrand, LLC and The Telegraph, including over 200 sites owned and operated by these properties, have now completed revised contracts directly with Local.com.
"We are pleased to license our patented local search technology to these companies and we look forward to signing more licenses over time," said Heath Clarke, chairman and CEO, Local.com. "Our method of geographical searching and indexing of data by location helps to deliver the most relevant local search results, and we encourage other companies that are interested in improving their local search results to consider licensing Local.com’s powerful technology."
The patent claims cover local search technology related to identifying location information from web documents, indexing that information and making it searchable geographically. In Local.com’s commercial implementation of the technology, the search results are ranked by search term, LocalRank score, and location prominence, among other factors. The system then extracts, matches and indexes web pages from the Internet and generates web references where applicable on more than 16 million local businesses listed nationwide on Local.com.
Local.com announced in July 2007 that it was granted U.S. Patent No. 7,200,413 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This patent covers a method of responding to enhanced directory assistance inquiries using various protocols, including voice-enabled and SMS systems. The method is designed to monetize those local searches. Local.com has a number of additional local-search-related patent applications pending.
About Local.com
Local.com (Nasdaq: LOCM) is a top U.S. website attracting approximately 10 million visitors each month seeking information on local businesses, products and services. The company also owns and operates a UK version of the Local.com site (http://uk.local.com). Local.com is also one of the largest local search syndication networks, publishing business information on over 400 regional media sites. Powered by the company’s patented local web indexing and Keyword DNA® technologies, Local.com provides users with targeted, relevant local search results, including special offers from local businesses, user reviews, local businesses’ website links, maps, driving directions and more. Businesses can advertise on Local.com with subscription, pay-per-click, banner and pay-per-call ad products. The site’s mobile service, Local Mobile™, provides local search results via mobile phones and devices. Local.com claims U.S. patent numbers 7,231,405 and 7,200,413. For more information visit: www.local.com.
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